Sweeping broom and handle connection therefor



Jan. 24, 1933. M, R, MQRTON l SWEEPING BVROOM AND HANDLE CONNECTION THEREFORy Filed June l, 1931 Patented Jam. 24, 1933 PATENT OFFICE 1 MARCUS n. MORTON, or sroKANE, WasnHadron sWEEPING Bacon AND HANDLE cornnc'rioiv 'rHnREroR Application filed June 1, `1931.l Serial No. 541,361.

The object yof this invention is to provide an improved sweeping broomstructure and article therefor, andthe invention is an improvement on my U. S. Patent No.

1,674,983, issued June 26,1928.

A feature .of this invention consists in building a broom body onto a'sleeve, and in permanentlyv or removably securing the handle in said sleeve. v Y

My invention also resides, as an article of manufacture, in a broom body built upon a hollow member or sleeve. Y

A further object o f the invention is to rovide aiiexible broom handle that is ad- Justable to vary the tension on the flexible handle, such adjustment being effected by relatively turning the flexibly connected portions of the broom structure without dis-assembling the same.v

Afurther feature consists 1n la novel spring construction and mounting normally acting to maintain the handle sections in alined and flush relation and wherein the spring is located and disposed in such a manner that the 9 flexing stress will be sustained vby aplurality of the convolutio'ns of the spring.

The invention has manyvother features and objects which will be more fully'described in connection withthe accompanying drawand which will be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. l is a view in edge elevation of a broom structure equipped with" the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken o nfline 2 2' ofFig. l, andrshow ing the broom body in dotted lines andinternal portions ofthe handle in elevation.`

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the same sectional line and showing all the parts in section.

Fig. .4 is a detached view, of the hinging spring and washers.` p

Fig. 5 v is another view of the hinging spring., flexed to illustrate how the parts would act when the broom handle is flexed.

Fig. 6 is a view of the broom body, showing the latter in dotted lines and illustrating in section, the sleeve on whichthe body is built Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the"V juncturing portions of the handleand broomV sections.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawing. y

I will first generally designate the' main integers of the invention-to broadly locate 601iy the various parts in the readers mind before entering into a detailed description.

The handle is' composed of handle and broom sections Vl and 2, and the broom `body 3, which is shown as the usual typethat isl made of broom straw, and is built upon a broom sleeve 4. What I will term the junc-v turing end of the handle section 1 is axially bored at 5, to form a hollow endend theterminal 6, thereof, is clearly shown in Figu. The bore 5, may be reduced at 6 to afford an increase of stock, and a cross pinV 7, is inserted through section l, as shown, and the lower portions .of Vthe outer endsof said pin 7, are preferably reduced at8, to formshoul-x- 75V ders,- and said ends slightly project fromy diametrical peripheral points of section l.l ,Said section vl, is preferablyreduced at 9 and a stress and pin Vsustaining ferrule l0 is sleeved oversaid reduced end and the up- 80. per edge portions of said ferrule 10 engage the shouldered portions 8 of saidpin 7 which serves not only to prevent said pin 7 from working endwise but alsotakes the thrust imposed on said pin 7 by the `main restoring 8.51 spring, tobe later described,and :prevents the lpin 7` from disruptingthe wood or other material of which the handle section 1 is made. The lower edgelQ, of said ferrule l0, projects beyond terminal 6, `thereby forming a recess which-I ill withnon-metallic and Y' slightly `flexible, filling and spring protecting washers or a single washer 13. It will thus lOGfSeIl that terminal 6, of handle section ll, is clearly in recessed relationl with respect to the projecting edge 12, the purpose ofwhich will /later appear. Y

Reference will next bemade'to the broom section and to its relation to the handleisection.

The broom section 2, which like the handle section 1, is usually made of wood, is shown bored at 14, to form a hollow or socket end and'thevjuncturing terminal is indicated at 15. The remaining, and in the d'sposition shown, the lower portion of section 2 is bored at 16 throughout the remainder of its length, the bores 14 and 16 being dividedfrom each other by an abutment 17 having an opening 18, the abutment- 17 serving for one end ofY a major spring to be presently described.

Reference will next be made to the broom body and broom sleeve.

The sleeve 4, is preferably of metal and of sufficient length to permit of the broom body being built thereupon. I have shown the body 3, as of the usual form, the straw be- Ving sewedrat 19, and the neck being wred, as at-20, to the sleeve 4, and the latter exf 2OV tending down into the body as shown by V dotted lines vin Fig. 1.l The disposition is such that the-normally upper portion 21, of sleeve 4, projects slgghtly above the neck of the body 3. i

It will now and sleeve may, aladin-actual practice will',

will not only-be non-rotatively connected but soV that the broomy body cannot-slip or work off from section 2. One means of Y anchorage may consist in applying a punch through the broom straw, as indicated in Fig. 1, after the parts are assembled, so that the metal of sleeve 4 can be indented into the wood, as indicated at 22. expedient may be used .where it is desired to permanently laffix the broom body to section 2, when the broom body is sold with the handle and not sold separately. Where it is desired to sell the broom body separate from-the handle, the anchorage may be effected by providinw the upper end 21 of d sleeve f4, ,withsuitable apertures and inserty ing short wood screws 23 therethrough and into the 'stock of section 2. Thus, after the broom body is worn out, it may be detached from the handle by out-turning screws 23..`

and a new broom body maybe kpurchased and secured to the handle that was originally purchased .with the broom body. However, in any event, and with'either form, the broom body is non-rotatively secured to section 2, the importance of which will later appear.

Reference will next be made to the manner be clear that this broom bodyr This in which thehandle and broom `sections are hinged in end to end relation and maintained in peripheral flush relation.v

My improved hinge consists of a coil spring 24 in which the convolutions are in `lateral abutting relationas shown in Fig. 4. This spring 24 has its ends inserted intoV the bores 5 and 14, of sections 1 and 2'and extends across thepjuncture of said sections. Bearing washers, preferably two, indicated at 25 and 26, are snugly 'fitted on spring 24 and are disposed between the edges of ferrule `l0 and sleeve 4, and said washers extend radially slightly beyond the peripheries of said parts as shown in Fig. 3, to insure a bearing engagement when the sections are flexed, as shown in dotted lines in said ligure.

like eicient .wearing niaterial.- Above washer 25, is disposed a filling orspring protectv These washers 25 d and 26, will preferably bemade of liber or a.

ing washer 13, hereinb'efore referred to, and y one or more filling washers27, are disposed below washer 26, to vfill the recess between .the terminal 15 and the upper projecting edge 28,k

of sleeve 4.2 The washers 13 and 27 will likewise be of liber or like efficient wearing material and are capable of yielding to a slight extent.

It will nowL be clear that spring 24 normally acts to restore thefsections 1 and 2 to Valined relation as said spring lits snugly in the hol-.j

low endsthereof, rand further, said spring also, and primarily acts to maintainsaid sections in peripheral flush relation.v The total length of theywashers along the springg24, which may be termed the bearing dimension, isindicated at m in F ig'. 4. Consequently, throughout this washer length, there is 'slightly yielding-action responsive to bend'- ing moment of the spring 24, and because the convolutions of the spring 24 are in'abutting relation,l a plurality of j convolutions would beabreastof said washers and thereby Y engaging yielding material. Y n

Therefore, thebending stress is not sustained by one or two convolutions but by a series thereof throughout the height indica-ted by and hence the spring will not be strained when the sections are flexed, and thisA novelV feature results from the combination of the yielding washers Vforming a yielding sleeve for a length about the spring, vand also the fact that the convolutions of the spring are in abutting relation. Above and below the `washers 13 and 27, the spring is un-yieldingly engaged by the bores of sections 1 and 2.' The action of the spring is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, whereit will be seen that end portions A'and B are straight, while Vthe central portion C is curved. 'Y Reference will next be made to the means of aprimary nature, for restoring the sections land 2 to alined relation, and which acts lon'- gitudinally of said sections in the performance of its function. i

A restoring spring is indicated at429, and is disposed in section 2, and in practice, Iuse as spring capable of sustaining a load oj about one hundred and fortypounds to the linear inch. 'One end, ory in this disposition, the upper end of said spring', coacts with abutment 17.l A washer abutment 30,.engages the remaining end of springl 29, I employ what I will term a tension rod, and to the ,extent that said rod is jointed, Vit is a flexible rod, and in the form' shown, one section of said rod, as indicated at 31, is disposed vin bore 5 and has an eye 32 which is disposed' aboutV pin 7, to non-rotatively connect'the'rod with said pin. The remaining end of said rod-has an eye 33lwhich is disposedI abreast of the w`ashers-25 and 26, at which plane the sections l and 2 break joint or flex'. The remaining; section of said rod is indicated at 34 andfhas a hook 35 that is detachablyfand non-rotatively connected with eye 33.

, Seetion34 `extends through bore 18 and through spring 29 and washer'abu-tment 30 and has ax lower threaded end portion al-y though there is no threaded connection with the abutment washer 30, the latter being free on said section 34. A nut 35 is threaded on section 34 and engaged washer 30. The Vlower end of section 34 may be provided with lock nuts 36, the purpose of which will presently appear. Because of the liability of rust, from dampness, preventing the nut 35 from turning onsection 34, I preferablypin or otherwise non-rotatively connect said nut 35 WithV said washer 30, as indicated at 37. It will be noted that the clearance afforded the linked or flexible tension rod just described, lthro-ugh spring 24 and the bores of the handle and broom sections, is amply sufficient for any flexure that would be practical, and that flexure of the handle and broom sections can take place in any direction from the longitudinal aXis of the handle structure.

I now wish to emphasize a most important feature of the invention, namely, that because of the non-rotative connection of the broom body 3, with the broom section 2, and

by reason of the non-rotative connection orV the tension link with pin 7, that relative turning movement of the handle section 1, with respect to the broom body 3, in either direction, will serve either to increase or decrease the tension of the primary restoring spring 29, dependent upon the direction in which the parts are adjustably turned. .'Ihe friction of spring 29, against washer 30, will prevent the latter from turning, and asthe tension rod is turned by pin 7, it will be clear that nut 35 will be advanced upwardly or downwardly thereby varying thel tension on spring 29. It will also be Vclear that this adjustment of' tension is easily effected without dis-assembling the broom structure.

The loelr nuts 36, are positioned in a manner to prevent the user from adjustingthe nut 35 to` decrease the-spring. tension, beyond 29, the swivelled parts land 2`-arerel`atively turned to' advance nut 35 `toward nuts36, theV reverse being true to increase the tension. v

Therefore?, there isl absolute lfreedom and latitude for either increasing or decreasing tensionandV the userc'an try thei broom to Y obtained. Y Il the broom body 3 isdetaehably secured to the handle,y and the tens-ion is released, it will be ,clear-v that the hook 35 may readily be detached from the eye '33, and the parts dis-assembled if necessary'. I

It willfvbeseen that the washers and 27 form a yielding sleeve which Eis'of Asufficient length so ythat irrespective .of whether the convolutions of spring 24 are in ie, a5, eo

actualabutting relation, 1fiexing stress' im` posedby fleXure of the handle and broom-seetions, willv be sustained by aplurfali-ty of convolutions of said spring thereby rendering l said spring more efficient in theperiormance of its restoring function. j It will further be clear that in addition to' thisfunction.,the

.wearing washers 25 and 26, perforrnthe ad-` ditional function of `takinigj the wear off' the ends of sleeve 4 and fermlel@ `and `affording vthe latter abase on which to flex. It will also be clear that the two wearing washers 25 `and 26 form Va 'swivelling juncture between sleeve 4 and ferrule ldthereby permitting Y easilyrelative rotation orrotative adjustment of the 'handle andv broom sections.

It will be clear that as theferrule l0 pro# jectsbeyond ,the hollow end ofthe lhandle section 1, and as .the broom sleeve 4 projects beyond the hollow broom section 2, `that the tube or sleeve formed bythe washers25 and 26, constitutes not only a swivelling juncture but a vfulcruming projection of the flexible tube.

It is believedtthat the `invention `will be fully imdersfoodv fromv `the .foregoing description,.and while I have hereinfshown and described one'l specific form of the invention, jI- do'not wish to be limited theretoexcept for j such limitations as the claims :may impart;

I elaiin: l

l. In `a flexible broom structure, handle and Ibroom `sections provided with hollOW ends, a ferrule outwardly telescoping 'said 'v handle section and projecting beyond one end thereof-'- to Vform a recess, aspring sleeved in j said hollow ends and flexibly connecting said sections, a broom .sleeve outwardly .telescop- @ing` saidbroom sectionandprojectingbeyond resulting structure presents handle and broom j 'S110 10, and 'the projectingportion of the flexible determinewhenthedesired tensionhasbeen 75 one end ofthe latter to form'- a 'recess,-wear ing Washers surrounding said spring and interposed between the adjacentends Vof' said ferrule andV sleevel and projecting peripherally beyond thesame, andfilling washers sur-v rounding said spring and vdisposed inthe recesses formed in theends of said handle and broom sections and forming with said wearing washersl a sleeve extending along a pluralityv of convolutions of said Yspring at the flexing juncture of said sections. u

, 2. In a flexible broom handle, handle and broom sections having hollow ends provided withV recesses and adapted tobe disposed in endwisejabutting relation, avcoiled spring having abutting convolutions and disposed. in said hollow ends `and extending across the juncture thereof and normally actingfto maintain said sections in alined and'flush relation, and bearing washers interposed be tween the juncture of said sections and spring protecting washers inthe recesses thereof to yieldingly sleeve a plurality of convolutions f of vsaid spring along the flexingjuncture of said sections.

3. In a. flexible broom handle, handle and j broom sections adapted tobe disposed in alined relation to form a handle, a `ferrule on said handle section projecting beyond the juncturing end of said section and forming s' a recess, a yielding filling washer substantially filling said rece-ss, a sleevev on said broom section projecting beyond the junc- .Y turingend of said section and forming a rei tube of yielding '-n'iateria'l outwardly tele--V scoping 'said spring', across `the juncture of and disposed in endwiserabutting relationV against `the hollow ends of said sections and said spring wherebyjflexingr'stress will Vbe sustained by' a` plurality of convolutions of said spring. c

y 6. In a flexible broom handle structure,

handle vvand broom sections -having hollow ends' provided with shoulders internallyv thereof., aucoil spring having its end portions disposed-in the hollow endsfof said sections and normally-acting to maintain said sections in;` alinement, and asleeve-lilze tube of yield ing. materialV outwardly telescopingsaid springrand extendingfacross the terminals MARCUS R. `MORlOl\T.

cess, a yielding filling washer substantially j filling said recess, yielding Ywearing washers Y interposed between Vthe juncturing ends of said ferrule and sleeve and projecting radi'ally beyondV the peripheries 'of the latter,

said sections havinghollow ends, and a coiled spring extending through all ofsaid washers Y. and into the'hollow ends of said sections and normally acting to maintain said sections in alined and flush relation.

4. lIn 'a flexible broom handle structure,

handle and broom sections having hollow portions, a spring having an abutment in Y one of said sections, a cross pin in the other ofsaid sections having a link connected with said spring to compress the latter vand normallyhold said sections inY alined relation, anda ferrule on said cross pin'section with one end'of saidy ferrule engaging the ends ofsaid cross pin to take the stress'from the latter and the remaining'end of said fer-rule transmitting vtheV thrust vendwise against the end of the remaining section. v .i

5. In a flexible broom handle structure,

`0`handle and kbroom sections having hollow 6 A disposed convolutions and having itsl end ends, a coilspring having relatively closely portions disposed in said hollow ends ofsaidV sections and extending across the juncture thereof and normally acting to maintainsaid sections in alined relation, and a sleeve-'like extending along a series of convolutions of ,'70- 

